I started volunteering at the Lords Rain at the beginning of the year.
At the end of my third shift, my co-volunteer Randall took me on a tour to show me more of the DTE
WHAT HORRIFIED ME
After three shifts I was used to the drug dealing that went on in the alley opposite to the Lords Rain, I was not prepared for the extent of the dealing that is all pervasive in the area, especially on Welfare Wednesday. The dealers were on every street corner, and outside every ATM and cheque cashing shop. Many of the residents were spaced out, and walking along Hastings Street by the Ovaltine cafe there were at least four women sitting on the sidewalk injecting themselves with obviously pre used needles
I wish I had made notes at the time-the following are my recollections, including information from Randall.
First United Church*
We entered to see a group of volunteers providing bowls, soap and water to “walk ins” for foot care
Some people were lying fully clothed in the corridor
The meal room was very large-according to one occupant, a Rabbi had conducted a short service there. The long dining tables were covered with spilt coffee
I looked in on one of the sleeping rooms-bunk beds-very close together-nearly all were occupied (at 9.30 a.m.) by men sleeping fully clothed on top of a sheet
According to Randall, it is open 24/7 which does not allow time for cleaning, there are three bathrooms for the men, and three for the women
The Bottle Depot
A dark, dismal, depressing place
The binners come in and get money for their bottles and cans-the drug dealers are waiting at the door to relieve them of that mone
People were lining up to get free food all over the area-some did not appear to be homeless-(according to Randall there are some who abuse the system )
Different charities run food and soup kitchens
WHAT SURPRISED ME
The resources available to people in the area, and how up beat some of the helpers are
The Evelyn Saller Center
A well used shower programme
Meals available at a price which I felt gave those partaking a certain dignity and self worth
A pool table and area for socialising
Health, delousing, and laundry facilities
“A Health Clinic” ( I cannot remember the name, but I do remember the cheery and very funny pharmacist)
Downtown East Side Personal Development School
Life Skills Centre
Job search assistance, computers
Carnegie Centre
Meals available at a cheaper price
Socialising
Computers
Newspapers
The Door is Open
The day we were there was “ladies day”- a dedicated group of volunteers, mostly from the West side of town were preparing lunch, mainly from donated food
About 12 women were seated at tables socialising-quite a good atmosphere
***
Diane also paid a visit to the showers program at Kitsilano Community Centre. It operates on Saturday mornings.
I wanted to see how this programme was run, and the coordinator kindly agreed to let me observe
The programme, which is totally run by volunteers apart from one Community centre staff person, takes place each Saturday from 7-9 a.m.
I counted about twelve volunteers
- 2 at the entrance to the Center where guest sign in-their bags are put into large plastic bags, carts are tagged, and they are given a ticket for them “Valet Parking"
- 3 in the kitchen cooking up a full breakfast
- 2 at the cereal, hot porridge and muffin table
- 2 at the coffee(pre prepared and donated by Starbucks) and juice table
- 2 at the clothing, toiletries, towels table
Friendly, outgoing volunteers, mainly from the West side, some attend the Catholic Church next door-very respectful to the guests
The guests were nearly all male, some coming every week from the DTE, others from the surrounding neighbourhood. Many were regulars-nearly all were appreciative
Much of the food and clothing is donated-socks and gloves are purchased and given out to anyone who asks
The showers are the same ones used by the regular center users, and although no tally was made as to how many people had showers, I counted five people in the room at one time-this area was not supervised
There had been a problem with bed bugs-the center had to be closed for cleaning
The coordinator gives everyone a talk re the problem before they are allowed to enter
There are written guidelines for volunteers with emphasis on personal safety
My own thoughts re above
There seems to be a definite hierarchy within the world of the homeless, which ranges from the hopelessness of the women outside the Ovaltine Cafe, to the (learned) helplessness of some of the men in the food lines, as evidenced by the downward slope of their shoulders and downcast eyes, to the hopefulness of the people who are trying to turn their lives around
I feel angry when I see how people are “housed” on the East Side-such conditions would never be tolerated on the West Side
I feel angry and baffled when money is handed out every month to people who immediately spend it on drugs-I cannot understand how there cannot be a system in place to ensure that that money goes toward food and shelter
*Diane had some further thoughts on the cleanliness at First United, which she shared in a Jan. 29 letter to Vancouver Councillor Kerry Jang.
Dear Councillor Jang
I have just read the following in today's edition of the Globe and Mail-the story was referring to tent cities in Seattle: "Health and safety concerns - for prospective residents and staff- make tent encampments a non-starter, Vancouver Councillor Kerry Jang said. 'It's just not good public health,' he said.
I volunteer with one of the shower programmes on the downtown east side-another volunteer took me on a tour of the area. I had the chance to take a look inside the First United Church on the corner of Hastings and Gore, and was horrified at what I saw-I am assuming that you have been there, so will not go into any more detail.
A large number of people are sleeping in very close quarters under one roof, with a limited number of bathrooms and exits. If you have not been to this facility lately, I hope you will take the time to revisit it-unannounced.
I would also appreciate your telling me what role the city plays in its funding, and what is being done to ensure that safety and health standards are being met.
Yours sincerely
***
Councillor Jang replied that same day,
Hi Diane,
I am well aware of First United. The shelter there is being funded now entirely by the Province of BC. The city set it up initially with the Province and it became very popular due to the needs in the area. Just so you know, we are aware of the issues there - mainly over crowding on some nights and our fire and VPD inspectors are there regulalry, as are folks from Coastal Health to make sure all are safe. To date, any issues have been dealt with by the church and Coastal Health have been satisfied. Over the past two plus years, although crowded, the facilities there have not had any outbreaks, etc, likely due to the cleaning protocol and the fact there are adequate washroom facilities. I do not know what parts you have seen, but there are beds there now when in the first year there were just mats and pews.
Tent cities are a problem as there are no proper santitation/washroom facilities and no way to regulate heat. When tent cities have popped up in Vancouver in the past, there were severe health problems.
***
Diane copied her MLA, Dr Margaret McDiarmid, on the exchange, and was told that had been forwarded to Rich Coleman, Minister of Public Safety -- and the minister whose department would oversee the program.
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